FAQs
Are you going to be back at Alcott for Summer 2027?
Yes! We're so grateful to be at Lincoln Elementary for Summer 2026 while Alcott undergoes construction. We'll be back at Alcott for Summer 2027 and beyond — two incredible schools, two incredible communities, and we're lucky to call both home.
What items will my child need to bring each day?
● Reusable water bottle
● Sunscreen, swimsuit, spf swim shirt, swim shoes, sandals, and a towel
● We have Banana Boat sunscreen for camper use. If you’re bringing a specific sunscreen from home, you’ll need to complete this form for the sunscreen. It is a funny legality that sunscreen is considered a medication, but alas, we must follow it
● Optional: a back up change of clothes labeled with name (for accidents or forgotten swimsuit changes)
Does my child need to bring medication to camp?
If your child requires daily or emergency medication, please make sure to:
Bring all medication in its original Rx bottle or packaging
Pack everything together in a labeled plastic bag with your child's name
What if my child has medical needs, food allergies or cannot eat certain food products for religious reasons?
If your child has profound/severe needs, please schedule a call with Jen before registering to ensure our camp is able to meet the needs of your camper. If there is a chance of a severe allergic reaction, please ensure we have all the necessary medication and are comfortable with the action plan before leaving your child with us. With written permission and an agreed upon action plan, we can administer daily medication to our campers. You can find our medical permission form here. Please put the completed form in a ziplock bag with your child’s medication. Please write your camper’s name on the outside of the bag.
What is Youth Soccer International (YSI)?
Youth Soccer International is a soccer program offered at Alcott Elementary School (2625 N. Orchard St.). It runs June 8–July 10, 2026, Monday–Friday and wraps up at noon. Please note there is no camp on Friday, July 3.
What does Jen's Camp offer for YSI families? At noon, Jen's Camp staff and YSI staff will walk campers together from Alcott Elementary to Lincoln Elementary where they can be picked up at the time that works best for their family, but by 6p.
How do I register? You'll register for the YSI program directly with Youth Soccer International.
To register with Jen's Camp for the walking transition and Jen's Camp program:
Select the half day program for the weeks your camper is attending YSI
Add the Walking Transition add-on ($5/week)
Sign the YSI Walking Transition Permission Agreement during registration with Jen's Camp
All three are required before your camper's first day.
What if the walk is cancelled due to weather? We plan to walk in light rain — and we've got ponchos! In the event of severe weather or unsafe conditions, we'll notify you as soon as possible. On cancelled days, families are responsible for getting their camper to Lincoln. You can also upgrade to a full day ($28 more than the half day rate) by emailing jen@jenscamp.com — drop off from 7:30am, covered through 6pm.
Questions? We'd love to chat — book a call or virtual hangout with Jen anytime.
My child needs 1:1 help, can you accommodate?
We are not set-up or staffed to help a camper 1:1. While camp cannot provide an aide, families are welcome to provide an aide for their camper as long as they are cleared by us first. Once we’ve received all the completed paperwork and confirmed background checks are clear for an aide, they will be able to attend camp with your camper. This can be a lengthy process as background checks can take weeks to clear. If this is the right step for your family, we recommend reaching out as soon as possible to begin.
Is there air conditioning?
Yes! Lincoln Elementary is fully air conditioned — and for outdoor fun on the rooftop playground, we'll have water misters to help campers beat the heat. Don't forget to pack a bathing suit and sun shirt for the commercial-grade waterslide and splash pad on the ground-level playground on days the weather allows!
When is the best time to plan a family vacation or long weekend?
Long Weekend: Friday, July 3 – Sunday, July 5, 2026 Up to 3-Week Vacation starting: Monday, August 3, 2026
We know summer goes fast — so here's how to make the most of it! We're big believers in making every dollar count, and families who attend the full summer save over $800. That's a lot of snow cones.
If you're a CPS family, the sweet spot is easy: plan around our long weekend closure on Friday, July 3, and save your family vacation for Monday, August 3 – Sunday, August 23, 2026. That's up to three full weeks of summer fun before school starts on Monday, August 24, 2026! Sometimes schools will have pre-start activities such as meet the teacher and supply drop offs, you may want to plan to be in-town for that the week before school begins.
Have grandparents, aunties, or other special people who want some quality time with your camper(s)? Point them toward the weeks of August 3, 10 and 17th — they'll thank you later. 😊
And here's some exciting news: CPS starts Monday, August 24 this year, giving us a longer summer than 2025 by two whole weeks!
Ahead: Registration for Spring Break and Summer 2027 will open no later than November 2026. We'll keep you posted on all the exciting things we're planning!
What should my camper bring to camp?
A water bottle and comfortable closed toed shoes suitable for running and being outdoors. If your camper wants to enjoy water play, pack a swimsuit, an SPF long-sleeve swim shirt (sunscreen is tough to reapply perfectly at camp — the shirt gives better coverage!), swim shoes, and a towel.
Remember, this is camp — please send your camper in clothes you won't mind getting messy. We use washable paint, chalk, and markers but stains can happen! A few things to pack:
Extra clothes in a plastic bag (especially helpful for our youngest campers!)
Water gear if your camper plans to join us on the commercial-grade waterslide or water activities on weather-permitting days
Write your camper's name on everything — it gives any accidentally misplaced items the best chance of finding their way back home to you. 😊
Where will my camper store their things?
When campers arrive, our staff will help them get settled! Water bottles are kept at our Hydration Station — a dedicated table where campers can easily access them throughout the day. When heading outside or up to the rooftop, there are designated water bottle areas there too so campers always have their water within reach. We call out "Jen's Camp water break!" often to make sure everyone stays hydrated and happy.
Backpacks and gear are stored in a designated area by grade level — our staff will show campers exactly where to go on their first day
.Lost and Found
Lost and found items will be placed on our lost and found racks. We donate items from our lost and found every other week during summer and at the end of the week for spring break camp. The lost and found is kept by our check in/out area so you can easily look for items that may belong to your camper(s) at drop-off/pick-up before they are donated.
When and how should I drop off and pick up my camper?
Camp runs 7:30 AM–6:00 PM — drop off and pick up any time within those hours that works best for your family. Enter through Door 1 (main entrance) on Kemper Street and walk down the hall to the right to our annex — camp staff are always there ready to check campers in and out.
If it's your camper's first day, aim to arrive before our 9:30 AM snack so they can meet staff and catch morning announcements — it makes for a much smoother start!
Need to check your camper out mid-day and bring them back? No problem — and no extra fees. Life happens and we want to make it easy. Check them out for the dentist, a sibling's recital, whatever you need, and bring them right back. If you need your camper ready to go at a specific time so you're not waiting, just let us know at drop off and we'll have them set to go!
Do you take field trips?
We stay put and bring fun exciting things to camp. We want to offer maximum flexibility for our families and allow them to drop-off/pick-up at any time during our camp hours. By bringing the fun to us, caregivers can always find us at camp and pick-up and drop-off as needed versus chasing a field trip throughout the city.
Will campers be on screens (ipads) all day?
Simply put, no. (Cue a big sigh of relief for many caregivers). Screen activities are only open during certain times of the day. Reminder: no electronics from home can be brought to camp, this includes smart watches and cell phones.
What is your cell phone /smart watch/device policy?
They are not allowed. Campers can access all kinds of things on a cell phone/device and smart watches and they will miss out on the fun of camp. We have a phone at our HQ and are happy to send you a text if needed to alert you a camper has arrived/been checked out or just to check-in throughout the day. We want our staff engaging with the kids and the kids engaging in activities. We can’t be policing cell phone usage and achieve that. If your camper must bring a cell phone to camp, alert us at check in and we will store it at our HQ (front desk) with their name on a post-it. We are not responsible if it gets lost or misplaced. Your camper may come call or send you a text while standing at HQ.
Can you teach my camper to crochet?
Sure, but only if they want to learn. We are happy to suggest activities to campers but ultimately, they get to decide which activities they’re going to participate in and when. With our schedule they cannot be in the same (one) activity for the entire day.
Do you apply sunscreen?
We recommend applying sunscreen before your camper arrives to camp. We have sunscreen for the campers to use and apply throughout the day. Need a special sunscreen? Fill out a sunscreen form(yes, it is a funny legality). Feel free to bring it and check it in when you arrive to camp.
How do I know if my camper is ready to attend camp?
Campers need to be at least 5 years old on the day they attend camp. Campers need to enjoy independently navigating their day. While there is a schedule, there is a lot of choice. Campers also need to be able to independently use the bathroom and change into/out of their swim gear if they chose to change for water activities. Both knowing when to go and being able to manage their entire bathroom experience are required.
Can my camper bring toys from home?
No. Do not send your camper with any toys, cards, electronics, lovies, etc. from home!
We have so many fun activities and we are not responsible for any lost or misplaced items. Staff are here at camp to remain focused on engaging with the campers. When staff are searching for a missing cherished item, they may need to be prepping for an activity as planned. If they are searching for a missing item, then the next activity is not prepared as planned and all of camp misses out. To keep things flowing nicely at camp, home things need to stay at home. If a camper is really missing something that brings them comfort, we have had them draw that object on paper. Once they’re done drawing, they talk to a peer or staff about how special the item is to them, what it is named, etc. The camper can carry that paper around in their pocket and take a look whenever they need to throughout the day.
What is the refund policy?
For our 1/2 day, full day, and weekly unit registrants, we are so happy to say that we are able to refund unused units, less a 7% processing fee. Entire summer registrations are considered maximized at 6 weeks, and there is no refund for the 7th week or beyond if it is unused. You can read more here.
Can I switch days and weeks?
If we can transfer an unused week to an available week, we will, and the same goes for days. We may need up to 5 business days to process a transfer, so let us know as soon as possible that you need a transfer in order to avoid disruptions to camp attendance. We can transfer unused spring break units (week or days) to available summer units when possible. There is not a fee to transfer nor any fee adjustments on transfers.
What/when will my child eat during the day?
Is anyone their best when they’re hungry? Nope. Let’s talk food:
Morning snack is at 9:30a and afternoon snack is at 3p. Campers should have breakfast before they arrive in the morning.
Lunch: Daily options include cheese pizza, gluten free cheese pizza, and, daily feature(s). Lunch is served with carrots and optional side of ranch. Campers select their lunch preference at check-in. If it is not a set snack or meal time and they would like to eat, campers can always stop at the HQ desk and request a snack and we will find one for them. If you camper would like to bring lunch from home, please remember we are nut free. At check in, please give us their lunch and we will put in the home lunch crate (which moves to into the fridge at 10a. If you arrive after that - it is no problem, we ensure it gets to the cafeteria).
Does Jen’s Camp follow a schedule?
Yes! Every day we have a pattern of activities that we follow. Some days we have special events or activities planned and those happen at the same time, on the same days, every week. While we offer many choices at any given time, we follow a daily schedule and routine. While campers need choice, they also need to know what to expect from their day. We have visual schedules for any campers that would like to see one.
Kick Off to Kindergarten
What is Kick Off to Kindergarten? Kick Off to Kindergarten is a program offered at/for and by Alcott Early Learning Center(610 W Schubert Ave.). It runs June 22 - July 16, 2026, Monday–Thursday mornings and wraps up at 1p. It is for Alcott students only.
What does Jen's Camp offer for Kick Off to Kindergarten families?
In a typical year, we offer a walking transition program from Alcott Early Learning to Alcott Elementary. At the conclusion of the school program, we walk students directly to Jen's Camp for families enrolled in our half-day program — where campers can stay until 6:00 PM, or whatever time works best for your family.
Due to the distance between campuses this year (2026), we are unable to offer the program. We'll be back in 2027!